An Universal Etymological English Dictionary
Nathan Bailey · 1721
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Description
Nathan Bailey issued his Universal Etymological English Dictionary in 1721, the most complete English word book of its day. Bailey was a schoolmaster who gathered some 40,000 entries, giving each word's origin along with its meaning. Earlier English dictionaries had been small lists of hard words; Bailey aimed at the whole language.
The entries trace words to Greek, Latin, French, and other roots, and add notes on grammar and usage. The book sold through many editions and served writers and readers for decades. Samuel Johnson borrowed heavily from it when he built his own famous dictionary a generation later. Bailey's work marks the point where English lexicography became a serious, full-scale trade.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Nathan Bailey |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 1721 |
| COLLECTION | REFERENCE |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 3682918 |
| LICENSE | Public Domain |
| RIGHTS | PUBLIC DOMAIN |
| SOURCE | Internet Archive |
Source: https://archive.org/details/baileyuniversaletymdict1ed